[D^3]

The new season is here, with the Braves opening it on a good note with a series win over the World Series champs at Philadelphia. Two very good games (and a not so good third game) have given us reason to be cautiously optimistic that we may be in the hunt again this year.

This thread will serve as the ongoing thread for discussion of the Bravos, during games, between games, whenever.



Washington comes to visit for the home opener on Friday, Derek Lowe to get the start. Not sure if the weather will comply, forecast shows an 80% chance of rain for Friday, so there's a chance it might get rained out.

If we're going to contend though, we'll have to take care of business vs. the Gnats.

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

If I remember correctly, didn't the Nationals handle the Braves for the most part last year, winning the season series? If the Braves are going to contend, you're right, they have to take care of business against the "lesser" teams (i.e., the teams they should beat the majority of the time), like the Nationals, and hold their own against the better teams.

[uscrules]

I don't know if they will contend or not after last nights bullpen performance. A lot of guys have got to step it up in the pen. Last nights performance was a disaster.

[Fidy8]

Your right GF, the Nats made the Braves look bad last year. This should be a easy series for them to get their confidence back after that BP breakdown yesterday. Yall are right in they have to beat these lower tier teams consistently to stay a contender.

[D^3]

Originally Posted by uscrules

I don't know if they will contend or not after last nights bullpen performance. A lot of guys have got to step it up in the pen. Last nights performance was a disaster.

It was disgusting that's for sure.... but I'm not ready to chalk that up as the norm. The previous two nights they pitched well. Moylan I give a pass to, just because it was his first appearance since tommy john surgery, and it's amazing he was back in 11 months anyway. Looks like he should have taken more time. Boyer was the only one I was really pissed at. He had no excuse for not being able to throw a ball over the plate.

I think if they can't get it together we should bring up Hanson and put him in the pen. Then we'd have a sick pen.

[Gator2753]

SOB we should have swept the Phils. No excuse for letting them come back like that. The bullpen completely collapsed. NTM Vasquez wasnt even that sharp at least not compared to Jurjens and Lowe.

Heres to a home opening sweep of the Nat's.

[D^3]

I thought Vasquez was pretty good. That's a gnarly lineup the Phillies have, I think holding them to 3 runs over 6 innings is pretty good.

[Fidy8]

Originally Posted by D^3

I thought Vasquez was pretty good. That's a gnarly lineup the Phillies have, I think holding them to 3 runs over 6 innings is pretty good.

I agree, I think its the best you can expect from the 3rd man in your rotation against that lineup.

[carwwest]

if our starting pitching can stay strong, our bullpen cannot have collapses like that....so deflating to an entire ball club if that happens on a normal basis...but fidy, the nationals didnt make us look bad last year because we were bad last year...we just werent very good last year but hopefully we can have a good year this year...

[D^3]

What I know is that the top 3 in our rotation have looked solid, and have never had problems with injury. For that reason I think we are going to be much better than last year. 4 and 5 is going to be Kawikama and Glavine, or maybe Hanson at some point, but any of those guys are much better options than we had last year for 4 and 5. Our pitching is going to keep us in games and give us a chance to win... and from what I've seen of our hitting thus far, they are going to do their part.

[The UGA Goat]

I try and block the Braves bullpen from my mind. I watch games until the 6th or 7th then turn it off.

[Fidy8]

Originally Posted by carwwest

if our starting pitching can stay strong, our bullpen cannot have collapses like that....so deflating to an entire ball club if that happens on a normal basis...but fidy, the nationals didnt make us look bad last year because we were bad last year...we just werent very good last year but hopefully we can have a good year this year...

Yea I didnt word what I was trying to say right, we were bad last year. But the Nats was worse and we could not beat them.

[carwwest]

yeah i understand fidy, i was just saying...but there are a lot of "if's" this year..."if" our starting pitching and bullpen can hold up....."if" our outfield can stay productive night in and night out...."if" we can stay away from injuries..."if" chipper can stay healthy throughout the year.....if all that stuff happens then there is no reason we cant make some sort of run this year, but if schafer shows he is an average rookie, not average player, and if pitchers go down with injury again, and if frenchy, diaz, and anderson cant produce, we are looking at another bad year...

really all im trying to say is that this year is sort of an unknown but has a lot of potential....cant wait to make it to a game this year...

[D^3]

YESS!!!!!!! We won a close game!!!!!!!!


Don't know if anybody else stayed up to watch the finish of this one, but the Braves got it done in the bottom of the 10th against the Nats and got the win, 5-4. Kelly Johson singled to right and Jordan Schafer scored from 2nd with his blazing speed.

Now the negative is that the Bullpen lost the lead AGAIN, after we were up 4-1 in the 6th. Good news is, if this is 2008, we lose that game. So, way to go Bravos, way to persevere.

[ugadawg9288]

I was at the game for a while...the group i was with left at around 10:20 (plus I've gotta be up at G-Day in 6.5 hours.) It was a good game though.